Even small dogs cause a lot of damage

Chihuahua owner has to pay 1,500 euros

Small dogs, high damage: What dog owners need to know

Dog owners are liable for any damage caused to their animal. In many federal states, owners are therefore required to have insurance. For good reason, as a recent ruling shows.

Small dog, big damage: An off-leash Chihuahua caused a woman to fall in the Hofgarten in Ansbach, Bavaria. The animal ran towards the woman in the public park, who took a few steps back out of fear, fell and injured her shoulder and hand. Did the woman exaggerate her panic in front of the 20 centimeter high dog? The Nuremberg Higher Regional Court says: No.

The court viewed the woman’s reaction as an understandable protective reaction, even if the little dog had run towards her in a friendly manner, wagging its tail and “just wanted to play”. The court found that the woman could not confidently assess this behavior as non-aggressive. The dog owner, who violated the requirement to be kept on a leash in the park, must therefore compensate the full damage and pay the woman 1,500 euros in compensation.

The case shows that even a mishap involving a small dog can have painful financial consequences. Even for small four-legged friends it is worth taking out dog liability insurance.

“If a dog causes damage, the owner is liable,” says Anna Follmann, insurance expert at the Rhineland-Palatinate Consumer Center. It is irrelevant whether he is at fault or not. Accordingly, taking out dog liability insurance is a must, emphasizes Follmann. “Unlike cats, rabbits or other small animals, normal private liability insurance does not apply here.”

The corresponding insurance is sometimes available for as little as 30 euros per year. According to the consumer advice center, dog owners should pay attention to the following points when taking out the contract:

Dog owners don’t have it easy: every federal state has its own dog law. Some federal states require dog owners to have insurance for their four-legged friends. Other countries, however, rely on voluntary action. In some federal states, however, the obligation only applies to “dangerous dogs”, so-called list dogs. But which breed is considered “dangerous” also varies from state to state. It usually affects breeds with noticeably aggressive behavior such as American Staffordshire Terriers, Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Mastiffs or Bandogs. Some federal states base this on the size or weight of the dog. Other countries, such as Brandenburg, use an individual character test as the standard for classifying the animal.

It is also advisable to take out insurance in federal states without compulsory insurance. The judgment from Nuremberg shows that even small dogs are by no means harmless when it comes to causing damage.